Cries for Economic Independence on Brazil’s Independence Day

Posted on Sep 7, 2013

Protesters against transportation fee hikes in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.

People protesting corruption, poor public services and a corresponding heavy tax burden disrupted a Rio de Janeiro military parade Saturday celebrating Brazil’s independence day. Five people were injured and 10 were arrested in the clash.

Philip Leite, a student demonstrator, told the AFP news agency: “We want better education, political reforms and media democratization. The June protests served to push Congress to approve measures—we have to keep them alive.”

The protesters, some masked, entered the downtown avenue where the military was parading, shouting slogans and the clash with police followed. The firing of tear gas prompted spectators, many of them families with children, to flee the area.

Police chased several protesters who escaped through side streets, shooting rubber bullets, according to local news site G1. At least one bank branch near the demonstration was vandalised, it added.

The protest at the Rio parade was one of more than 100 planned anti-government protests across Brazil on Saturday.

In the capital Brasilia, about 1,000 protesters gathered peacefully in front of the Congress building.